However, it's a place where electronics guys hang out but pool pros wouldn't. Some folks have chemistry background, some own pools, but when it comes to an algae problem most of us just wing it. Worked all the time, but not this time.

Because of the Organic Material, is why you are getting the Algae bloom. In the July/Aug 2008 issue, there is an article about a homeowner that had Black Algae. Only real way to stop the bloom, is to get rid of the problem.

Well, HTH wants to sell chemicals. Shocking once a week is brutal, nobody really does that around here. I would imagine it could wreck the equipment over time. But yeah, we got a lot of ash and stuff blown in since the wildfires started. Got to go in again tonight, brush towards the deep end and have the bottom return slurp up some more, then do the umpteenth backwash and DE re-pack. Maybe I'll have a brewsky during the backwash since on top of all this the bearing in out margarita mixer seized up. Dang.